I
t has become glaringly clear that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State must avoid the dangerous trap of repeating past mistakes in the choice of its gubernatorial candidate come 2027. The stark reality before us is that Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin and Chief Abdulwaheed Adebayo Adelabu are like oil and water — two elements that can never mix. To impose either of them as flag bearer would not only spell disaster but also risk throwing the party into deeper crisis.
The fact remains indisputable: Senator Teslim and his loyal supporters will never support a candidate openly propped up by Adelabu. Rather than uniting the party, Adelabu has continued to stoke division by bragging about being the leader of APC in Oyo State simply because of his ministerial office. Leadership is not about self-proclamation. What then should we say of Senator Teslim himself, a three-time Senator and former gubernatorial candidate? Or of our three sitting Senators, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, SOJ, Barr. Bayo Shittu, Sunday Dare and other notable party stalwarts who have served meritoriously at state and national levels? Are they lesser leaders than Adelabu? Certainly not. To allow such belittlement and disregard is to undermine the very foundation of APC in Oyo State.
If the party truly desires victory in 2027, it must understand that Adelabu and Teslim, no matter how influential, cannot be the standard-bearers. Oyo APC is far bigger than the ego of any single individual. The party must rise above selfish ambitions and unite behind a candidate who embodies humility, charisma, capacity, friendliness, reliability, and broad-based acceptance.
We thank God that Oyo APC is blessed with sound, experienced, and unifying personalities who can lead us to victory. The clarion call is simple: APC should give us a better and neutral candidate in 2027 — one who can bring together all shades of opinion, mend existing cracks, and rally the people of Oyo State behind a progressive and winning vision.
Anything short of this is a sure path to failure. The time to act wisely is now.
